Associate Counsel – Business and Litigation

• Dispute and Litigation Management. Drive, manage, and represent UMMS and its member organizations and affiliates in all aspects of dispute resolutions and litigation. Manage and support a portfolio of affirmative and defensive litigation, including contract disputes, vendor issues, commercial claims, and other operational matters. Identify opportunities to use litigation strategically to achieve business or operational objectives. Lead selection, engagement, and oversight of outside counsel, ensuring alignment with institutional goals, cost-effectiveness, and litigation strategy. Coordinate with internal stakeholders and direct outside counsel throughout all phases of litigation.
• Enterprise Risk Prevention and Mitigation. Provide legal counsel and advice to medical executive committees, senior management and other stakeholders within UMMS especially surrounding those issues pertaining to legal and compliance risks and liability and ways to minimize both, as well as risk management, and public policy and advocacy. Advise management of new legislation and government regulations that might affect operations. Evaluate and participate in strategic planning and determine legal positions.
• Support Internal Investigations. Advise management with respect to compliance with federal and state laws and regulations applicable to corporate conduct of business and clinical compliance. Work with various hospitals and business partners to facilitate compliance with federal and state regulations. Manage and direct internal investigations in subject areas as needed, collaborating with other internal stakeholders in shared services such as Compliance, HR, IT and Finance.
• Manage Government Investigations, Inquiries, & Enforcement. Represent UMMS in compliance inquiries or matters involving state and federal agencies. Support and respond to government subpoenas, investigations, audits, and regulatory inquiries, including those from state and federal agencies (e.g., MD OAG, DOJ, HHS OIG, CMS). Conduct and/or direct internal investigations related to regulatory compliance, operational concerns, or third-party conduct in coordination with Compliance and Risk.
• Outside Counsel Management. Select, direct, monitor, and oversee outside counsel engaged to perform services on behalf of UMMS, including preparation and monitoring of legal budgets related to each matter and invoices. Supervise personnel engaged in administratively managing the vendor and outside counsel invoicing process within the general counsel's office.
• Hospital Operations Support. Provide legal advice on a broad range of hospital operational issues, including patient care, medical staff matters, informed consent, scope of practice, credentialing, and facility policies. Evaluate legal risk in operational initiatives and support the development of legally compliant and operationally practical solutions. Assist in policy review and legal interpretation related to hospital and health system operations. Assist with case management, social work, care management and other complex patient care matters, and oversee the guardianship petitions filed in connection with Medical System patients. Collaborate with clinical and administrative personnel to draft bylaws, rules, regulations, and policies as needed to facilitate hospital operations.
• Other Responsibilities:
• Conduct legal research and provide opinions based on that research.
• Develop, review, and/or revise policies and procedures as needed.
• Prepare and perform various legal training courses to Medical System employees, physicians, and contractors, as required.
• Manage and direct the Legal Fellow program for the Office of the General Counsel as requested.
• Other matters as may be assigned by the supervising Chief Counsel.

• This position impacts corporate programs and established policy through participation as a legal advisor on committees whose purpose is developing/implementing policies, programs, and projects.
• The individual in this position must remain current with legal issues affecting UMMS and the health care industry. The individual must ensure that, in the event of an inquiry, investigation, and/or litigation, the appropriate documents, contracts, agreements and procedures are properly prepared, executed and followed, and that knowledgeable staff is involved in the process.
• The individual acts with integrity within corporate policies and guidelines, and according to the tenets of ethical behavior of the legal profession.

• Admission to the bar of at least one state, preferably Maryland, in good standing.
• Seven (7) to nine (9) years of progressively responsible experience as a practicing attorney required.

• Strong consensus-building skills to align diverse parties around recommendations that keep within the confines of the law but enable the organization to meet targeted business objectives.
• Highly effective written, verbal and listening skills, including ability to understand and communicate complex legal and compliance concepts in a clear, concise, and practical manner to a variety of audiences, including Boards of Directors, committees, medical staff, management, residents, executive staff, and other personnel at all levels, regulators, the media, and the community.
• Proactive and innovative attorney who is well versed in the business dynamics and regulatory environment of the healthcare industry.
• Well-developed investigation and negotiation skills that drive toward creative solutions with insight and integrity. Familiarity with government investigations and enforcement processes.
• Ability to teach and train clinical and non-clinical staff by synthesizing legal concepts and applying them to practical applications in furtherance of patient safety, legal and regulatory compliance, and the health system objectives and strategies.
• Finely tuned legal research and analytical skills and a strong health law background.
• Demonstrated experience managing litigation and external counsel relationships.
• Strong judgment, problem-solving skills, and ability to convey complex legal concepts in clear, practical terms.

• Pay Range: $77.54 - $123.81
• Other Compensation (if applicable):

University of Maryland Medical System